Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Multiple Actors and Grievances Undermine Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire
The US-Iran ceasefire, announced after a dramatic shift by President Trump, is already showing signs of strain. Competing interpretations an
Iran Ceasefire Collapse Highlights Limits of Middle-Power Mediation in Asia
A ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran brokered by Pakistan with Chinese support collapsed within hours, despite multiple regional med
North Korea Adopts Iran and Ukraine War Tactics for New Combat Playbook
North Korea is rapidly incorporating lessons from the Iran and Ukraine wars into its military playbook. Recent tests include cluster-munitio
Trump's 'Next Conquest' Rhetoric Stirs Global Tensions as Iran Conflict Stalls
President Donald Trump has declared the U.S. military is eyeing its 'next conquest,' even as a fragile ceasefire with Iran fails to reopen t
China Conducts Nuclear Response Drills Amid Rising Taiwan Strait Tensions
China's Eastern Theater Command has held drills simulating a response to a nuclear attack, focusing on detection and decontamination. Analys
Iran War Does Not Immediately Shift Taiwan Calculus, but Reveals US Capabilities and Constraints
The US military campaign against Iran demonstrates operational competence but diverts key assets from the Indo-Pacific. China sees both a wa
US JASSM-ER Diversion to Iran Strains Pacific Deterrence Against China
The US has committed roughly two-thirds of its JASSM-ER cruise missile inventory to operations in Iran, leaving only about 425 missiles glob
The Theological Roots of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Rhetoric
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's religious rhetoric is rooted in the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a network advocating for
US Ban on Chinese Surveillance Cameras Linked to Rise in Drone Incursions
The 2019 US ban on Hikvision and Dahua cameras at American bases correlates with a surge in drone incursions. China's surveillance ecosystem
China Uses Iran Conflict as AI Warfare Lab Against US
Chinese tech firms are marketing AI tools to track US military movements in the Middle East, supporting Iran's targeting. This creates a den
China Accelerates South China Sea Island-Building as US Focus Shifts to Iran
China has resumed land reclamation at Antelope Reef, potentially creating its largest outpost in the South China Sea. The move coincides wit
Japan's 12,000-Ton Aegis Ships: Strategic Deterrent or High-Value Targets?
Japan's two new 12,000-ton Aegis ships, with 128 vertical launch cells, aim to bolster ballistic missile defense. Critics warn they may beco